Type-writing machine.



Patented Dec. 12,1916. 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOH ATTORNEY.

B. MAYER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT 28. ms

WITN ESSES B. MAYER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 191 6.

Patented Dec. 12,- 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESSES GMMQW y MM WQL Y BRANTZ MAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1L2, 1916.

Application filed September 28, 1916. Serial No. 122,583.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BRAXTZ MAYER, a. citizen of the United States,- residing in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia Y and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typeriting.Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for use on typewriting machines, to ascertain the distance of the bottom edge of a work-sheet from the writing line while the sheet is in writing position on the platen, and the bottom edge is nearing the writing line.

In some typewriting machines the lower edge of the work-sheet, as it approaches the printing line, is usually hidden from view by the platen feed rolls, paper guides, or other parts of the machine, so that the operator cannot tell how near to the bottom of the sheet the work has been carried until a line is typewritten more closely to the bottom edge than is desired.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and etlicicnt device to enable the operator to determine at any moment, as the writing of the sheet is nearing completion, the distance of the bottom edge of the sheet from the writing line on the platen. For this purpose a normally idle gaging device is mounted on the machine, and may be ad armed to the bottom edge of the worl sheet. while a scale bar connected to move with said gage will indicate the location of said bottom edge in the machine, that is, its distance from the last written line. The operator can thus tell at a glance the width of the remaining bottom margin of the sheet, and the number of lines that may still be written without overrunning the bottom margin.

The invention as herein shown is applied to a machine of the type in which awork table is provided at the introductory side of a roller platen on which table the work sheet is placed and fed around the under surface of the platen between the same and feed rolls running on the platen, the worksheet being carried upwardly in front of the platen past the printing line. The marginindicating means may comprise a gage or stop device slidably mounted on the paper table and guided for movement around the under surface of the platen in the path of the work-sheet, so that the gage may be inafter appear.

moved forward at any time after the bottom edge of the. sheet has passed the gage, until the gage strikes said edge of the sheet and is thereby arrested.

A scale bar connected to move with said gage, indicates the position of the bottom edge of the sheet when the gage has been moved forward to aposition to abut or strike said edge. The scale bar may be arnng d to normally project above the upper edge of the paper table and may be connected tln-ough a flexible rod to said gage,'so that the operator by pushing the scale bar downwardly may move the said gage forward until it strikes the edge of the sheet. The scale bar is thus moved downwardly behind the paper table a distance corresponding to the. position of said edge of the worksheet, such position being indicated by the particular scale marking thereby brought o osite the edge of the paper table.

Other features and advantages will here- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a carriage of an Underwood typewriting machine with the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the scale bar. Fig. 3 is a section at the line 3 3 on Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, the indicating device being in its normal position of rest. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the indicating device, and a portion of the paper table. Fig. (i is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the indicating device moved to indicating position. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing a modification. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but with the indicator moved forward to indicating position. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the indicating device shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a sectional view as indicated by the section line 1()10 on Fig. 7.

The roller platen 11 is mounted on a platen axle 12 journaled in the ends of a platen frame 13. The platen may include an upwardly and rearwardly inclined paper table or shelf 14 at the introductory side of the platen on which the work-sheets are supported and guided to the platen. An apron or guide 153 extends forwardly from the bottom of the paper table 14. being curved around the platen concentrically prising a line-spacing lever 20 having an arm 21, to move rearwardly a slide bar 22 on which is pivotally mounted a dog 23 ar- -anged to drive a line-space ratchet wheel 2t secured to the platen axle, and thereby rotate the platen. The parts thus far described may be the same as those common in commercial Underwood typewriting machines.

The bottom margin-indicating device, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, comprises a gage plate or stop 26 mounted to slide on the table 14 and the apron 15. For this purpose said table and apron are provided with a slot or guide-way 27 in which the gage 26 is guided, and through which it projects into the path of the work-sheet, said gage having a neck or reduced portion 28 working in said slot. The gage 26 is secured to the lower end of a rod or carrier 29 behind the paper table 14, and which extends loosely through a guide block 30 fixed to the rear face of the table 14 by a screw 31. A scale bar 32 is attached to the upper end of the rod 29, said bar being guided through an opening 33 in the upper beaded or rolled end 34 of the paper table. Said bar is also slidable in a guide block 35 attached to the rear face of the paper table by a screw 36 extending through the table and into the guide block. The indicating device is held in its normal position of rest, Fig. 4, by a coil spring 37 on the rod 29 between the guide block 30 and a collar 38 fixed to said rod. The collar 38 abuts against the guide 35 and thus limits the upward movement of the indicator.

When the work-sheet 40 has been advanced to a position in which the bottom edge 41 thereof has been carried beyond the gage 26, the operator may at any time determine the position of said edge by pushing the bar 32 downwardly and forwardly, thereby moving the gage 26 forward until it strikes the edge -.t1 of the work-sheet. This position, Fig. 6, is indicated by graduated scale markings on the bar 32, which may include a scale 42 having numbered graduations at line-space intervals, to indicate the number of line-spaces between the bottom edge .of the sheet and the writing line. A second scale 43 may be graduated and numbered to indicate the width of the bottom margin in inches or fractions of an inch. Thus, as indicated at Fig. 6, the work-sheet has been advanced to such position that eight line-spaces, or one inch and a quarter, remain between the writing line and the bot tom edge of the sheet. This space is indicated by the scale numbers that appear at. or just above the edge 44 of the slot 33. I

The rod or bar 2) which carries the gage 26 is quite flexible, so that as the gage 26 moves forward around the platen said rod may follow the contour of the curved apron 15. Said rod maybe either a thin flat metal strip, or circular in cross-section, or other desired shape permitting sutlicient flexibility for the purpose stated. The head of the screw 31 is beveled or curved and is of suflicient depth to deflect the leading edges of the. work-sheets away from the gage 26 as said sheets are dropped into machine over the table 1%, thus preventing said sheets from catching on the gage. A cross ban-t5 extending lengthwise of the platen behind the paper table 14 and forming part of the platen frame, may comprise an offset portion 46, providing a passageway for the indicator. Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive illustrate a modlfication. As here shown the gage 26 is carried by a coil spring 47 guided on a stationary rod 48. Said rod 48 lies behind the paper table 1- and is fixed at one end to the end 34: of the paper table. The opposite end of said rod extends forwardly around'the platen beneath the apron 15 and is secured at its forward end 50 to said apron. The rod 48 also forms a guide for the gage 26 which is slidable along the rod. The upper end of the coil spring 47 is attached to a big 51 fixed to the scale bar 32. Said lug 51 is slidable on the rod 46, whereby the scale bar is guided as it moves to operativeposition. By depressing the bar 32. the gage 26 is carried forward to its sheetengaging position, Fig. 8. The spring 47 may be stitf enough to hold the gage 26 at a fixed distance in advance of the lug 51, or, if desired, said spring may be made weak enough to yield under a moderate pressure against the edge of the work-sheet, the. spring thus acting as a cushioning device and vpreventing sufficient pressure of the gage to tear or disarrange the work-sheet. The operator can readily tell by the touch, when the gage has been brought up to the worksheet. A coil spring 52 attached to the paper table and the scale bar 32. serves to return the indicator to its normal position of rest.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the in'iprovements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1..In av typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and means to feed a work-sheet thereover, of a bottom marginindicating device comprising a gage normally stationary as the work-sheet advances over the platen, and means for advancing said gage into position to engage the bottom edge of the work-sheet and by the position of the gage indicate the distance of said edge from the writing line on the platen.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and means to feed a work-sheet thereover, of an indicating device movable in the path of the work-sheet into position to engage the bottom edge of the sheet as said edge approaches the line of writing and thereby indicate the position of said edge.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and means to feed a work-sheet thereover, of a bottom marginindicating device, said device normally at rest as the work-sheet is advanced over the platen, and means for guiding the indicating device for movement into position to strike the edge of the work-sheet and thereby arrest said device at a position corresponding to the position of advancement of the sheet over the platen.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen and feed-rolls running thereon to feed a work-sheet over the platen,of means forming with the platen a passage-way through which the worksheets are guided, a page-end indicating device, and means for guiding said device along said passage-way into position to strike the bottom edge of a work-sheet while said edge is in said passage-way to indicate the position of said edge with respect to the writing line on the platen.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen, of a paper table at the introductory side of the platen, feedrolls running on the platen for advancing a Work-sheet thereover, an apron curved around the platen and spaced therefrom-to provide a passage-way for the work-sheet, a gage slidable along said apron and projecting into said passage-way. and means for moving said gage into position to engage the end edge of a work-sheet insaid passage-way.

(S. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen, of a paper table at the introductory side of the platen, feedrolls running on the platen for advancing a work-sheet thereover. an apron curved around the platen and spaced therefrom to provide a passage-way for the work-sheet, a gage slidable along said apron and projecting into said passage-way, means for moving said gage into position to engage the end edge of a work-sheet in said passage-way, and a scale to indicate the position of said gage and thereby indicate the osition of said edge of the work-sheet.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen and a means for r a a.

feeding a work-sheet around the platen past the printing line. the bottom edge of the sheet as it nears the printing line being hidden from the view of the operator, a bottom margin-indicating gage. and means for guiding said gage along the path of the work-sheetand permitting the gage to be moved into engagement with said bottom edge while the latter is hidden from view, to thereby indicate the position of said gage.

S. In a front-strike t \'pewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen and means to feed a worlvshcet forward around the lower surface of the platen. and upwardly past the printing line at the front of the platen. of a gage having a normal position of rest. means for guiding said gage along the path of the work-sheet beneath the platen whereby the gage may be manually advanced to cause it to engage the bottom edge of the work-sheet while said edge is beneath the platen, whereby the gage is arrested at a position determined by the position of said edge, and the distance of said edge from the writing line on the platen thereby determined, and a scale arranged to indicate the advanced position of the gage and thereby indicate the distance of said edge of the work-sheet from the writing line.

-9. In a front-strike typewriting machine. the combination with a roller platen and means to feed a work-sheet forward around the lower surface of the platen, and upwardly past the printing line at the front of the platen, of a gage having a normal position of rest, means for guiding said gage along the path of the work-sheet beneath the platen whereby the gage may be manually advanced to cause it to engage the bottom edge of the work-sheet while said edge is beneath the platen. whereby the gage is arrested at a position determined by the position of said edge. and the distance of said edge from the writing line on the platen thereby determined. a spring to return the gage to said rest position, and a stop to limit the return movement of the gage.

10. In a front-strike typewriting machine. the combination with a roller platen and means to feed a work-sheet forward around the lower surface of the platen. and upwardly past the printing line at the front of the platen, of a gage having a normal position of rest, means for guiding said gage along the path of the work-sheet beneath the platen whereby the gage may be manually advanced to cause it to engage the bottom edge of, the work-sheet while said edge is beneath the platen. whereby the gage is arrested at a position determined by the position of said edge, and the distance of said edge from the writing line on the platen thereby determined, and a scale bar connected to move with said gage, said bar having scale graduations with designating characters to indicate the number of line-spaces between the writing line on the platen and the bottom edge of the worksheet, said bar also having a scale with designating characters and graduations to designate in inches and fractions thereof, the distance of the bottom edge of the sheet from the line of writing.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen and means for guiding a work-sheet around the platen and feeding it thereover past the printing line, of a page-end indicating device comprising a gage, and means for guiding said gage along the curved surface of the platen in the path of the work-sheet, and permitting said gage to be moved forward into position to engage the end edge of the work-sheet as the latter approaches the printing line, said indicating device comprising a flexible carrier for said gage by which the latter may be advanced.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a paper table at the introductory side of the platen, means for guiding and feeding a work-sheet from said table around the platen and past the writing line on the platen, and a bottom margin-indicating device, comprising a gage movable along the path of the worksheet between said table and the printing line, whereby said gage may be moved into engagement with the bottom edge of the work-sheet when the latter has passed beyond the paper table, a flexible carrier for said gage extending rearwardly therefrom behind the paper table, and means connected to said carrier for actuating it to move the gage into indicating position.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a paper table at the introductory side of the platen, means for guiding and feeding a worksheet from said table around the platen and-past the writingline on the platen, and a bottom margin-i'iulicating device, comprising a gage movable along the path of the work-sheet between said table and the printing line, whereby said gage may be moved into engagement with the bottom edge of the worksheet when the latter has passed beyond the paper table, a flexible carrier for said gage extending rearwardly therefrom behind the paper table, and a scale bar connected to said carrier and projecting beyond said table, said scale having graduations to indicate by the position of the scale bar relative to said table, when the gage has been brought up to the edge of the work-sheet, the distance of said edge from the printing line on the platen.

H. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a paper table extending upwardly and rearwardly from the introductory side of the platen, means for guiding and feeding a work-sheet from said table along the under surface of the platen and upwardly past the printing line at the front of the platen, a bottom marginindicating device comprising a gage, means for guiding said gage along the under surface of the platen in the path of the worksheet, whereby, after the bottom edge of the sheet has passed the gage, the latter may be moved at will up to said edge of the worksheet, a flexible carrier for said gage ex-' tending rearwardly therefrom at the back of said table, and means attached to said carrier and projecting beyond the upper edge of the paper table for operating said gage.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a paper table extending upwardly and rearwardly from the introductory side of the platen, means for guiding and feeding a work-sheet from said table along the under surface of the platen and upwardly past the printing line at the front of the platen, a bottom marginindicating device comprising a gage, means for guiding said gage along the under surface of the platen in the path of the worksheet, whereby, after the bottom edge of the sheet has passed the gage, the latter may be moved at will up to said edge of the worksheet, a flexible carrier for said gage extending rearwardly therefrom at the back of said table, and a scale bar attached to said carrier and projecting upwardly and rearardly beyond the upper edge of said table; said scale bar forming a means for advancing the gage to indicating position, said bar having scale graduations to indicate the position of the gage.

BRANTZ MAYER.

IVitnesses J. B. KIMBERLY, J12, firos. BOYLE. 

